Stephen Colbert Brings Standup Act To Congress

Stephen Colbert made a laughingstock — literally — of the United States Congress on Friday, mocking lawmakers to their faces in formal testimony before a House subcommittee on immigration.

The renowned goofball brought his standup comedy act to the legislation during his morning address at the Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Subcommittee Hearing on “Protecting America’s Harvest.”

Colbert spoke to House reps in character as his satirical alter ego — a blowhard conservative — toasting the experience with a host of one-liners and barbs that left a sour taste in the mouths of some lawmakers. Stephen even quipped at one point that it was really hard for him to pick up beans and pack corns with illegal immigrants.

“This is America,” Colbert said at the hearing. “I don’t want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian.”

At least Congressman isn’t laughing.

During an appearance on FOX News Sunday on Sunday morning, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer — the Democrat from Maryland — said he thought comedian Stephen Colbert’s Friday testimony before a House panel hearing on immigration reform inappropriate.

Hoyer called Colbert’s comedic testimony was “an embarrassment for Mr. Colbert more than the House.”

“What he had to say, I think, was not the way it should have been said,” he added.